Tag: persecution

Left For Dead

“Left For Dead” By Kirk Hunt

Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.   However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:19–20 NKJV

Paul was not attacked by pagans or heathens.  The Apostle was stoned to “death” by pious, religious folk.  Their contempt and anger for Paul was so great that they did not bother with burying him.  They simply dragged his “dead” body outside of the city limits and left him for rot or wild animals.

Paul was nearly murdered for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by kith and kin, not strangers or foreigners.  Of course, Paul once had persecuted Christians in similar manner.  The saddest fact is much of the persecution against early Christians came from their own kinsmen, not the pagan Roman invaders.

Too often, modern, Western Christians blame the unchurched for difficulties or resistance in building God’s Kingdom.  Religious fratricide is the more likely reason saints and ministries struggle.  Outsiders are easier to blame but insiders are the more likely culprits.

Consider how you respond and are responded to, by fellow Christians.  Is there upset over differences of style or tradition?  How does your disagreement or conflict look to outsiders and unbelievers? 

You may not agree with other Christians.  Still, there are Biblical ways to work through our differences in grace and love.  Certainly, there are Nero-like folk (modern and ancient) who persecute Christians.  Make sure, my Gospel brother or sister, that you are not one of them.

Think:       Our greatest hindrances are too often religious folk, not the unredeemed.

Pray:         “Lord, help me to approach other Christians in Your grace and love.”

 

Copyright © May 2018, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is brought to you courtesy of CadreMen Press.  You can purchase a copy of Blessed and Blessing: Devotionals For Gospel Champions from your favorite bookseller or directly from CadreMen Press.

Loving Under Authority

“Loving Under Authority” By Kirk Hunt

 

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 13:1–2 NKJV
Please also read Romans 13:1–14

 

The Apostle Paul commanded Christians living in Rome to obey the rule and authority of the Roman Caesars.  These same Roman leaders would eventually behead the Apostle.  Paul’s words, and example, remain a commandment for Christians today.  Our dual citizenship in God’s Kingdom, and a secular government, leads to complexities we answer through His love and grace.

 

Christians are good citizens of God and heaven, first and foremost.  When push comes to shove, His grace and love should flow out of us to the men and women who persecute us.  Especially when they respond with dogs and firehoses.  

 

Paul was beheaded for preaching the Gospel.  Traditionally, all of the Apostles, save John, were martyred for preaching Jesus.  The Apostles loved Jesus, and their pagan persecutors, more than themselves.  Instead of a clenched fist they used their loving hearts to turn the authorities to Jesus.

 

Through prayer and living as authentic Christians, the Apostles turned pagan Rome into a Christian nation.  No nation, or group, is so far gone that it cannot be brought, or returned, to Christ.  Are you willing to live, love and potentially die as a citizen of heaven?

 

Think:                I am first and foremost a loving citizen of heaven.  Regardless of the cost.

 

Pray:                   “Lord, help me to live out my life as a testimony of Your love.”

 

Copyright © June 2016, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

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Despised For His Name

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“Despised For His Name” by Kirk Hunt

 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Matthew 5:11 KJV

 

Tuesday morning, at 9:40AM, I was a colleague.  My character would have been described as open and compassionate.  I was seen as intelligent and well-spoken.  10 minutes later, at 9:50AM, everything changed.

 

Did I really say and do so many mean-spirited things in 600 seconds?  Could I suddenly become heartless, judgmental and condemning in those few minutes?  All I am sure of is that the relationship, built slowly in the last two years, went up in proverbial smoke.

 

I confessed to my coworker, “I am a Christian.”  What really got me were his eyes.  I could see the loathing and disgust that suddenly clouded his view of me.  He would gleefully turn me in to anyone rounding up Christians.

 

I happen to know some of the hurts and wounds in his background.  Still, Scripture spells out clearly what is right and wrong.  If righteousness will not bend for me, it will not change for him.

 

My coworker rejected Jesus, not me.  That is why my heart is broken, for him.  Unless God intervenes, he could be lost.

 

Scripture commands me to find a way to love him, anyway.  Jesus’ Great Commission calls me to make him a disciple.  I’m praying that God will open his eyes to the Gospel.  While there is life, and the Holy Spirit, there is hope and a way.

 

 

Think:            A Christ-like life overpowers opposition through His power, grace and love.

 

Pray:              “Lord, help me to live like You, especially with my opponents.”

 

 

Copyright © March 2013, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.